MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
News Release (094/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 29
May 2008
A brand new centre
fostering new technologies for the frontline officially opened its
doors today.
The Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE) is an exciting new
initiative to help bring bright ideas that could aid current
operations to fruition. Situated in the Oxford-London-Cambridge
'Golden Triangle', the Centre will bring together
inventors, investors, entrepreneurs and academics who together
will incubate new technologies and turn ideas to cutting edge reality.
Attendees at today's launch seminar were challenged to come
up with innovative solutions to address some of the issues facing
soldiers on current operations, including how to reduce the weight
of personal kit and increase soldiers' mobility through new technologies.
Attending the launch of the CDE, Minister for Defence Equipment
and Support, Baroness Taylor, said:
"The Centre for Defence Enterprise is about tapping into the
UK's best talent to develop the next generation of military
technology for our Armed Forces. It is an exciting opportunity to
expand the MoD's science and technology supplier base for defence.
"We are looking for the innovative solutions and technology
that will provide our front line with the battle-winning edge."
Building on the success of the Grand Challenge and Competition of
Ideas, the Centre for Defence Enterprise will look for innovative
proposals, the best of which will be taken forward as research
contracts to produce the next generation of military equipment and
technology. It also seeks to stimulate wider entrepreneurial
interest in the defence sector.
Applicants will submit proposals for assessment and the Centre
for Defence Enterprise will support those ideas that have the
potential to meet current and future operational requirements. The
aim is to capture these ideas and develop them into solutions that
can be quickly applied to the frontline.
Innovators will be invited to regular seminars showing them what
defence is looking for, further opening up communication of
MoD's science and technology requirements.
Notes for Editors:
1. The Centre for Defence Enterprise will be a physical centre
modelling itself on commercial science parks and incubators,
bringing together inventors, investors, entrepreneurs, and
academics to incubate new businesses and technologies with defence
and other applications.
2. Basing this pilot at Harwell reflects its location within the
recognised Oxford-London-Cambridge 'Golden Triangle' for
private investors and its access to MOD and further delivers on
commitments made in the Defence Industrial Strategy and the
Defence Technology Strategy to engage with a wider supplier base.
3. Broad access to the Centre for Defence Enterprise is also
available through the associated website on http://www.science.mod.uk
4. Although the MOD is looking to bring together innovators and
investors, it is not proposed that the Department itself becomes
involved in joint ventures.
5. The MOD runs several schemes aimed at delivering innovation:
- The Grand Challenge - a competition open to the UK science and
technology community to develop an autonomous vehicle capable of
detecting a range of military threats in an urban environment.
- The Competition of Ideas - a web-based scheme, set up to
identify and take forward novel technologies relevant to defence.
It received over 450 proposals and resulted in 66 funded projects,
a large percentage of which were from SMEs and academia.
6. For more information on CDE and other initiatives go to http://www.science.mod.uk